Lubricating device



Aug. 27, 1940. G. GUNDEL LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR pfgxgu GEEIRIBE LUTHER EUNDEL BY 77% Z ATORNEY Aug. 27, l940 G. L.. GUNDEL 2,213,001

LUBRICATING' DEVICE Filed May 26, 1959 2 sheets-sheet'z INVENTDR.' GEORGE LUTHER BUNDEL,

, QM t (www ATTDRNEY.

Patented Aug. 27, 1940 UNITED ST1-wssrATENT oFFlcE 11 Claims.

. This invention relates to lubricating devices, more particularily to devices for lubricating shaft bearings such as railway type journals and the like and it has for an object the provision of a simple, reliable and improved device of this character.

In railway type journals, the axle of the car wheel projects into a journal box which is formed to provide a well beneath the axle containing a suitable lubricant. 'Ihe well is lled to a level below the bottom of the axleto prevent leakage of the lubricant along the axle. Heretofore, cotton waste or other similar materials have been l utilized to provide a wick action or capillary ac- Accordingly, a further object of this invention is the provision of an improved lubricating device which has low maintenance costs, requires only infrequent replacement and which remains in position in the well and in `forced Contact with the axle'even when the lubricant is thick and congealed during the coldest weater.

In carrying the invention intol effect in one form thereof, a cylindrical sleeve of a stili vresilient fabricis arranged in position in the journal box between the axle and the bottom ofthe well, so that a portion of the sleeve is immersed in the lubricantl and another portion is in forced Contact with the axle. A supporting member formed of a stiff fabric adapted for Contact with the bottom of thewell and theside walls of the journal box is provided and the cylindrical sleeve is secured tothis supporting member in order to prevent the cylindrical sleeve froml rolling or creeping around the axle when it is rotating.

In one form of this invention, the-cylindrical sleeve is formedl by taking a substantially flat strip of the fabric and bringing its two ends together to form the sheet into a cylinder. -In order to reenforce the joint where the two ends ofY the fabric abut each other, the end sections 'of the fabric are interlocked or dovetailed.-

kThis application is a continuation-impart of my copending application, Serial No. 115,556, led onjDecember 12,1936.

In illustrating the invention in one form thereof it is shown as embodied in a device for lubricating a railway type journal.

For a better and more complete understanding of the invention, reference should now be had to the following specification and to the accom- 5 panying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of an embodiment of the invention taken partly in section on the line I-I of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a view in section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a View of the lubricating device in modi- 10 ed perspective; Figs. 4 and 5 are front elevational views of modiiied forms of the invention; Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are' simple diagrammatical Views illustrating positions of the lubricating device under several operatingconditions; Fig. 9 is a frag-` 15 mentary View in perspective oiv a modiiied form of the invention; Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view of a part of the lubricating device shown in Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 is a View similar to Fig. 10, but illustrating still another modification of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings a car wheel I0, such for example as the `wheel of a railway locomotive, passenger or freight car is mounted on an axle I I. This axle extends through the closure plate I2 into a journal box I3 which is carried on suitable supporting means such as the side frame I4. Within the journal box I3, an axle bearing I5, constructed in the form of a half bearing, bears on the axle II, and is maintained in position by means of a wedge I6.

As shown, in the drawings, the journal box I3 is formed to provide a well beneath the axle which contains a suitable lubricant I`I suchrv as heavy oil. The well is filled approximately to the.l level indicated in the drawings.- Filling above this level is generally avoided since lubricant would leak out along the axle or otherwise escape unless suitable shaft packing means were provided, Y n

In order to provide for inspection and iilling with lubricant, the journal box is provided with lid I8 which normally is held closed by means of a spring I9. l

For the purposeof conducting lubricant to the axle II and bearing I5, a tubular shaped lubricating device 20 and supporting member 2l are provi-ded. This device comprises an inner cylindrical tubular member 20a formed of a stili" resilient fabric provided with an outer layer 20s of wicking material. Although the inner tubular member 20a may be made of any suitable material, it is preferably a multiple ply woven vfabric of long iibered wool. Such fabric during the course of its manufacture and after weaving is subjected to a heavy fulling or felting process, resulting in a heavy shrunken matted product, of perhaps 1/2 inch thickness and of the proper or required qualities of both firmness and resilience. A strip of this fabric is then formed into a tubular member with 2Gb.

The outer layer 2Gb is formed of a piece of highly absorbent woven or knitted wicking material, such for example as woven or knitted cotton wicking, a product lr'gh in absorbent and capillary attraction qualities and is formed into a cylindrical tubular member as by sewing, etc. Thereafter tubular member 28a is inserted within member 2Gb, thereby forming a close fitting double tubular member ready for attachment to supporting member 2|, as hereinafter described.

Supporting member 2! is preferably made from the same or similar preferred stiff resilient fabric as that from which the inner tubular member 2da is formed as described in the foregoing. Alternatively, it may be made of other materials such as woven jute fabric. Its width is approximately equal to the axial length of the lubricating device 2U, i. e. equal to the axial length of the portion of axle Il between the two shoulders shown in Fig. 2.

Preferably, the length of the supporting member is such that when installed in the journal box in the manner illustrated in Fig, l, it extends from the bearing I3 on one side of the axle downwardly along the wall of the journal box across the surface of the lubricant well and upwardly along the opposite wall of the journal box to the bearing block. Because of the high coefficient of friction between the supporting member and. the surface of the journal box, it is not necessary that the supporting member should extend into contact with the bearing in order to prevent rolling or creeping. If desired, the length of the supporting member may be considerably reduced and a corresponding reduction in cost obtained.

The lubricating double tubular member 2G is secured to the supporting member 2i by any suitable fastening means such as the stitches 22 illustrated in Fig. 3. Alternatively, metal clasps or staples may be employed, but sewing with a heavy thread is preferred,

After assembly, the complete Unit is installed in the journal box in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 with a portion immersed in the lubricant'and another portion in forced contact with the axle Il. Because of the stiffness and resilience of the supporting member 2 l, this member is in effect sprung into position and maintained in contact with the bottom of the lubricant well and the walls of the box as illustrated in Fig. l. Similarly, owing to the stiffness and resilience of the fabric constituting the inner tubular member 20s and the fact that the normal diameter of the lubricating device 2i] at all times exceeds the distance between axle i i and the supporting member, the surface of the wicking layer 2Gb is maintained in forced contact with the axle.

Owing to the high degree of capillary action of the wicking layer, a profuse and sufficient supply of lubricant is at all times conducted to axle l! and bearing i5.

Upon installation, the tubular lubricating device 20 assumes the position in which it is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6 with its center line and the center line of the journal box through the center line of axle l l in the same vertical plane.

Because of the forceful frictional contact between the lubricating device 2D and the axle Il,

rotation of the axle tends to carry the lubricating device along, and this in turn tends to drag the supporting member 2l around in the same direction. This tendency is very marked at low temperatures. During cold weather of the winter months to which railway rolling stock is subjected, the lubricant ll thickens and forms a heavy, stiff congealed mass, which does not become warm until the train has been under way for some time. When starting up cold with the lubricant stiff and congealed, the lubricating device and supporting member to which it is attached tend to creep and carry around with the axle as described in the foregoing. However,

these tendencies are effectively prevented by the abutting contact between the edge of the supporting member and the lower surface of the bearing block l5 and also by the forceful frictional contact between the supporting member and the walls and bottom of the journal box.

Since the lubricating device 2U is attached to supporting member 2| at the point of tangency, the frictional Contact between the axle and lubricating device produces slight displacement or deflection of the lubricating device in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, depending upon the direction of rotation of the axle as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. However, the resiliency and rigidity of the inner tubular member 22s maintains a firm frictional and lubricating contact between the wicking 2Gb and the axle and this condition holds even though the deiiection or rotary displacement of the lubricating device is reversed upon reversal of the direction of rotation of the axle.

When the layer of cotton wicking has worn out the inner tubular member 20a may be provided with a new layer of wicking. Since there is no wear on the inner tubular member 20a or on the supporting member E l, these parts may be utilized almost indefinitely.

This lubricating device is more efficient than any known, having long life and requiring little attention after installation; maintains continuous contact with axle; does not permit shifting or displacement of the material supporting and supplying lubricant and neither does it permit the formation of waste grabs and consequent hot boxes, common to the conventional waste packed boxes and which are due to the wedging of such waste between the axle and the brass resting on the top side of the axle.

This lubricating device is inexpensive and economical because the inner tubular member and supporting member can be used almost indenitely. The outer` tubular member or cotton wicking, i. e. the journal contact and therefore wearing surface, can easily be renewed and the whole device is once more ready for installation and long service.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the supporting member 23 is in all respects identical with the supporting member 2| of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The lubricating member 23 is constructed so that it has an inverted V-shaped cross-section instead of the tubular cross-section of the modiiication of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The inner member 24a is preferably formed of the same stiff resilient fabric as that from which the tubular member 2a is formed. An outer layer of cotton wicking 24s is secured to the inverted V- shaped resilient member by any suitable fastening means such as by sewing. The dimensions of the inverted V-shap'ed member are chosen so that the wicking is maintained in forced contact with the axle Il.

Any suitable fastening means such as sewing, metal clamps or staples may be utilize-d to secure the resilient member 33a to the supporting member 23.

After assembly, the complete unit is installed inthe journal box in the same manner as described in connection with Fig. 1 with the lower portion of the inverted V-shaped lubricating 'device immersed in the lubricant and the upper or apex portion in forceful contact with the axle.

The device functions in a manner generally similar to vthe functioning of the preferred form of Fig. 1 and accordingly repetition would be superfluous.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 5, the supportingmember is identical with the members 2l and 23 of Figs. 1 and 4. The lubricating member 26 comprises a single strip 26s of` the same stiff resilient fabric as that from which the members 23a and 24a are made. A layer of absorbent wicking 26s is sewed or otherwise secured to the member 23a. Member 26a is secured to supporting member 25 by staples 2 or other suitable fasteningmeans. The length of the lubricating member is approximately equal to the axial length/of the axle between the shoulders. illustrated in Fig. 2, and the height of the strip` is such that the wicking 2Gb is maintained in forceful contact with the axle. The installation and functioning of this modified form are analogous to the installation and functioning of the modifications of Figs. 1 and Ll.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the cylindrical tubular member 3@ has an inner -cylindrical tubular member '33a formed of a stiff resilient fabric such as the member 23a of 3, and an outer layer 33h of wicking material, such as the member 2Gb of Fig. 3. The cylindrical member 30 is mounted on a supporting member 3l formed of the same material as the member 2| of Fig. 3.

The sleeve 3Q is made-from a flat composite sheet formed of the layers 33a and 30h by bend- Iing or forming the sheet into a cylinder with the two ends abutting each other as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to`3 and 6 to k8, the abutting edge-s are straight and arranged in parallel relation. In the form lshown in Figs. 9 and 10, however, the two end sections of the sheet are formed with a plurality of spaced extensions or tongues 32 and 33 respectively. The tongues and the spaces between are of substantially equal width. The tongues 32 on one end section are formed opposite the spaces between the tongues 33 on the other end section, while the tongues 33 are opposite the spaces between the tongues 32, and when the end sections are brought together the tongues on each end section are tted into the spaces in the'opposite end section, as shown. In other words, the two end sections are joined together by an interlocked joint. rIhe tongues 32 and 33 are sewed by a plurality of parallel lines of stitches 33, as shown. The interlocked the abutting edges of the cylindrical member 35 are provided with an interlocking joint `defined by a relatively large flaring tenon 36 formed on one end section of the cylindrical member and fitted into a Complementary mortice or socket 3l formed on the other end section, as shown,

the tenori and socket defining a dovetailed joint. This joint, as in the case of Figs. 9 and 10, prevents separation and displacement of the abutting ends of the cylindrical member. A plurality of lines of stitches 38 are provided which secure the tenon 33 and the material on opposite sides of the socket 31 to a support 39, that is *similar to support 3| of Figs. 9 and 10.

In their lubricating functions, the devices of Figs. 9 and 10, and 11 function as does the device of Figs. l to 3 and 6 to 8.

Although in accordance with the provision of the patent statutes, this invention is described as embodied in best form in which it is now contemplated carrying it into effect it will be understood that the details and arrangement described are merely illustrative and that the invention is not limited thereto since alterations and modiiications will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art Without departing from the true spirit of this invention or from the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by 'Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A lubricating device for railway type journals having an axle, an axle bearing and a journal box providing a well containing a lubricant comprising a sleeve member formed of a stiff spongy fabric arranged in position in said journal box so that a portion of said sleeve is immersed in said lubricant and another portion is forced toward said axle, and a separate sheet of comparatively highly absorbent wicking material surronding said sleeve member and forced by said member into contact with said axle.

2. A lubricating device for railway type4 journals and the like having an axle, an axle bearing and a journal box providing a well containing a lubricant comprising a stiiT woven fabric sheet adapted to be placed within said journal box so that the mid-section of the sheet engages the bottom wall of the journal box and is immersed in the lubricant and the end sections of the sheet are free to spring out away from the axle into contact with the side walls of the journal box, and a lubricating member formed of a stiif resilient fabric and a portion of relatively high absorbent wicking material covering said fabric,

lsaid lubricating member fastened to said midsection of said supporting member and having a portion in forced contact with said axle and a portion immersed within said lubricant so that the lubricant is conveyed to said axle by said wicking, the engagement of said mid and end sections of the supporting member with the bottom and side walls of the journal box preventing displacement of said lubricating member.

3. A lubricating device for railway type journals and the like having an axle, an axle bearing and a journal box providing a Well containing a lubricant comprising a fabric supporting member having a substantial area in frictional engagement with the inside surface of said box lso as to be maintained in its position in said box, a lubricating member formed of a stiff resilient fabric fastened to said supporting member so as to be immersed in said lubricant, and a separate member of relatively highly absorbent wicking material covering said lubricating'member' having a portion immersed in said liquid and a portion forced into contact with said axle by said stiff" lubricating member.

A lubricating device for railway type journals and the like having an axle, an axle bearing and a journal box providing a well containing a lubricant comprisimT a resilient member formed of a multiple ply woven fabric of long bred wool felted to form a single homogeneous fabric possessing substantial resiliency and provided with a separate outer layer of relatively highly absorbent wicking material, said member having a portion immersed in said lubricant and a portion forced into Contact with said axle by the resiliency of said member, a supporting member maintained in position by frictional engagement with the walls and bottom of said box, and means for fastening said resilient member to said supporting member thereby to prevent said resilient member creeping around said shaft.

5. A lubricating device for railway type journals and the like having an axle, an axle bearing and a journal box providing a well containing a lubricant comprising a supporting member formed of a stiff Woven fabric material maintained in position within said journal box by engagement with the bottom of said well and the side walls of said box, a cylindrical member having a diameter slightly in excess of the distance between the bottom of said axle and the surface of said supporting member so that the lower portion of said cylindrical member is immersed in said lubricant and the upper portion is in Contact with said axle, said cylindrical member comprising an outer layer of absorbent wicking and an inner cylindrical member formed of a stiff resilient woven fabric whereby the upper surface of said wicking is maintained in forced arcuate contact with said axle, and means for securely fastening said cylindrical member to said supporting member and allowing slight distortion of said cylindrical member in the direction of rotation of said axle.

6. A lubricating device for railway type iournais and the like having an axle, an axle bearing and a journal box providing a well containing a lubricant comprising a supporting member formed of a stiff resilient woven fabric material, a lubricating member of V-shaped cross-section with apex thereof in contact with said axle and the open edges immersed in said lubricant, said lubricating member` comprising an outer layer of relatively highly absorbent wicking material and an inner member formed of a stiff resilient fabric for maintaining said wicking in forced contact with said axle substantially solely by the resilience of said fabric and means for fastening said lubricating member to said supporting mem ber to prevent said lubricating member from creeping around said axle in response to rotation thereof.

7. A lubricating device for railway type journals and the like having an axle, an axle bearing and a journal box provided with a well containing a lubricant comprising a supporting member formed of a stiff woven fabric maintained in posi tion within said box by frictional engagement with `the bottom of said well and the side walls of said box, a lubricating member in the form of a strip having one edge in contact with said axle and an oppositev edge immersed in said lubricant, said member comprising an outer layer of wicking material and an inner strip of a stiii` resilient fabric whereby the contact edge of said lubricating member is maintained in forced contact with said axle substantially solely by the resilience of said material, and means for fastening the immersed edge of said resilient fabric strip to said supporting member to prevent said lubricating member creeping around said axle.

8. A lubricating device for railway type journals and the like having an axle, an axle bearing and a journal box providing a well containing a lubricant comprising a supporting strip of a stii woven fabric in surface contact with substani,

tialiy the entire area of the bottom of said well and the surface of the walls of said box, a cylindrical lubricating member arranged with its axis parallel to the axis of said axle and with one portion of its cylindrical surface in contact with said i axle and another portion immersed in said lubricant, said member having a diameter slightly in excess of the distance from the bottom of said axle to said supporting member comprising an outer layer of wicking material and an inner cylinder of a resilient woven fabric whereby said lubricating member is maintained in forced contact with said axle solely by the resilience of said fabric and fastening means securing said lubricatlng member to said supporting member iny tangential contact therewith so as to provide for slight displacement of said lubricating member in the direction of rotation of said axle while preventing said member from creeping around said axle.

9. A lubricating device for railway type journals having an axle, an axle bearing and a journal box providing a well for containing a lubricant comprising a sleeve member arranged in position in said journal box so that a portion of said sleeve is immersed in the lubricant placed in said box and another portion is arranged to Contact said axle, said sleeve member being formed of a sheet having its ends in abutting relation, and said abutting ends being provided with spaced tongues, those on one end fitting into the spaces between those on the other, a supporting member for said sleeve, and means securing said tongues to said supporting member.

1C. A lubricating device for railway type journals having an axle, an axle bearing and a journal box providing a well for containing a lubricant comprising a sleeve member arranged in position in said journal box so that a portion ci said sleeve is immersed in the lubricant placed in said box and another portion is arranged to contact said axle, said sleeve member being formed of a sheet having its ends in abutting re lation, one of said ends being provided with a flaring tenon that fits into a complementary socket provided for it in the other end, a support, and means securing said tenon and the material on opposite sides of said socket to said support.

l1. A lubricating device for railway type journals having an axle, an axle bearing and a journal box providing a well containing a lubricant comprising a sleeve formed of a stiff spongy fabric arranged in position in said journal box so that a portion of said sleeve is immersed in said lubricant and another portion is forced toward said axle, a separate sheet of comparatively highly absorbent wicking material surrounding said sleeve member and forced by said member into contact with said axle, the sleeve of stiff spcngy fabric and sheet of absorbent wicking material having abutting end sections and an interlocking reenforcing joint connecting said end sections.

GEORGE LUTHER GUNDEL. 

